FirstEnergy Receives Industry Recognition for Outage Restoration Efforts
Company recognized for recovery following extreme weather in June 2022
AKRON, Ohio, Jan. 12, 2023 -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) has received an Emergency Recovery Award from the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) in recognition of its outstanding response in restoring power to more than 287,000 customers in Ohio and West Virginia following severe weather that produced three confirmed tornadoes and extreme temperatures in June 2022. This is the seventeenth consecutive year that FirstEnergy has been recognized by EEI for its storm response efforts.
From June 13-16, portions of FirstEnergy's northcentral Ohio and West Virginia service areas served by the company's Ohio Edison and Mon Power utilities bore the brunt of three major thunderstorm events with wind speeds higher than 80 miles per hour, followed by a multi-day heat wave that recorded heat indices above 105 degrees. Following the company's Emergency Response Plan, more than 1,800 FirstEnergy line workers, forestry crews and support personnel worked safely to minimize the outage time for customers, ultimately replacing 263 poles, 149 transformers and about 25 miles of wire.
"I am proud to accept this award on behalf of the hundreds of FirstEnergy employees and others who worked tirelessly in difficult conditions to get the lights back on for our customers during some of the hottest days of the year," said Sam Belcher, senior vice president of FirstEnergy and president of FirstEnergy Utilities. "Our Ohio Edison and Mon Power personnel worked safely around the clock, overcoming challenging weather, impassable roads and other hazardous conditions to be there when our customers needed us the most."
EEI presents awards twice annually to member companies for extraordinary power restoration efforts or assistance to other electric companies after service disruptions caused by weather conditions and other natural events. Winners are chosen by a panel of independent judges following an international nomination process. The awards were presented Wednesday, Jan. 11, during EEI's winter Board of Directors meeting.
"Throughout the past six months, electric companies faced devastating hurricanes, unprecedented heat waves, and many other extreme weather events that impacted the customers and communities we serve," said EEI President Tom Kuhn. "I commend FirstEnergy's commitment to restore service for its customers safely and quickly under challenging conditions. FirstEnergy and its storm response team undoubtedly are deserving of this national recognition, and I am honored to present them with this well-deserved award."
EEI is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies. Our members provide electricity for 220 million Americans and operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. As a whole, the electric power industry supports more than 7 million jobs in communities across the United States. In addition to our U.S. members, EEI has more than 65 international electric companies, with operations in more than 90 countries, as International Members, and hundreds of industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate Members.
FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp or online at www.firstenergycorp.com.
Editor's Note: A photo of FirstEnergy receiving the award from EEI can be viewed/downloaded on the company's Flickr channel.
News Media Contact: Lauren Siburkis, (330) 203-8850; Investor Contact: Irene Prezelj, (330) 384-3859